Derby denied penalty as east midlands clash ends in stalemate

Posted Tuesday, December 18, 2018 by PA

Derby were left to rue referee Keith Stroud’s decision not to award them a first-half penalty as they were held to a 0-0 draw by rivals Nottingham Forest at Pride Park.

A crowd of over 31,000 witnessed a keenly-contested east midlands derby, which while short of goalmouth action provided plenty of entertainment.

Rams midfielder Tom Lawrence appeared to be fouled in the area by Tendayi Darikwa midway through the first half, but it was the visitors who carved out the clearer chances.

Sky Bet Championship top scorer Lewis Grabban was denied by Scott Carson on the stroke of half-time, while Joe Lolley hit the bar late on.

Frank Lampard, experiencing this fixture for the first time, named an unchanged Derby lineup from the side which beat Wigan.

Forest made one change to the side beaten at home by Preston last time out, with Aitor Karanka bringing in Saidy Janko for Matty Cash.

Scott Malone’s fourth-minute cross was only cleared as far as Jayden Bogle, whose fierce drive straight at Forest goalkeeper Costel Pantilimon.

Mason Mount fired over after 13 minutes, failing to work Pantilimon after Jack Marriott’s cross from the left was laid off by Harry Wilson.

At the other end Grabban tested Scott Carson from 20 yards, although he may have been better off passing to Ben Osborn, who was clear to his left.

Derby should have had a penalty after 19 minutes when Darikwa clumsily kicked Lawrence in the box, only for Stroud to wave the appeals away.

Tom Huddlestone diverted a Richard Keogh header over the bar as the hosts continued to press, but it was Forest who missed the best chance of the opening period after 43 minutes when Carson stuck out a leg to thwart Grabban after the latter had been sent clear by Osborn.

The visitors created the first opening of the second half, but Janko blazed over after being played in down the left by the impressive Osborn.

Lawrence picked Darikwa’s pocket just after the hour mark, only to then hit his effort from 20 yards off target.

Lolley produced Carson’s first save of note after 65 minutes when his curling effort from range had to be tipped over by the ex-England keeper.

Wilson stung the palms of Pantilimon in the 76th minute when, having payed in Marriott down the right, he met the forward’s cross with a fierce volley.

With eight minutes remaining Joao Carvalho found Lolley, who clipped the top of the crossbar with a curling effort after cutting in from the right.

The hosts could have won it in stoppage time, but substitute David Nugent failed to get enough purchase on his header to seriously test Pantilimon.